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When I start taking Atripla back in 2009, the cost was $2200 then come to be $2330 now today it is costing me $2450.99. I think this med is working great for me. I don't want to miss a single dose. However, the cost is getting too high. Had it not been for my insurance, I don't know how I am going to pay for this med. I live in a state where there are many people in waiting list for ADAP. I am just worried where I might end up if the price rising at this rate.

Thank god for insurance and in my case medicare part D . I got my statement yesterday and my drug cost is now $3553.69 that's a whopping $42,644.28 a year in drug cost alone , I haven't the heart to figure out how much my doctor bills are a year .

Republican congressmen are in washington plotting to to repeal health care reform all the while complaining about run away deficits , go figure .

I know how you all feel... I dont know what i would do if i did not have medical coverage from work.. Atripla in my state cost about $2800.00... grant it i pay nothing for the time being but i always like to plan the just in case moments.. I wonder why our Gov't is not forcing pharma to reduce the price i am more than certain that it with all the marketing, R&D, and manufacturing costs that the pill would at most have a cost of $2.00.. I am just guessing here...

When I start taking Atripla back in 2009, the cost was $2200 then come to be $2330 now today it is costing me $2450.99. I think this med is working great for me. I don't want to miss a single dose. However, the cost is getting too high. Had it not been for my insurance, I don't know how I am going to pay for this med. I live in a state where there are many people in waiting list for ADAP. I am just worried where I might end up if the price rising at this rate.

Please clarify if your out of pocket cost has risen as well?

Do you live in the US?

Yes I agree the prices of these drugs are staggering.And the fear of losing insurance is horrifying. Having no confidence in a flimsy public safety net is nerve rattling.

I don't think I'll ever live in the US again mostly cause of the latter two fears.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Yes I agree the prices of these drugs are staggering.And the fear of losing insurance is horrifying. Having no confidence in a flimsy public safety net is nerve rattling.

I don't think I'll ever live in the US again mostly cause of the latter two fears.

I live in Virginia US.

Yes, my out of pocket cost has also risen. But it is only marginal and tolerable. My insurance cost is only $50 a month. I also reduced from four-times a year to two-times a year doctors visits. This helps me save some bucks.

However, the cost of the drag is outrageously huge. Are there places in the world where people do not pay for medications?

Are there places in the world where people do not pay for medications?

that's a tough question to answer the way you phrased it.All medication is paid for by someone; just not always the patient.

while some meds in Africa are purchased/supplied through PEPFAR for free to the client, in America Medicaid (and/or Medicare) or ADAP might pay and supply the meds for no out-of-pocket costs to the client. In all the cases however "someone" is paying for the medication, just not the patient.

Although... through Welvista there just may just be some medications that end up being totally free. Welvista, based in SC, has received some medications "donated" (for the charitable tax deduction of course) from big pharma that they have distributed for free to needy eligible clients (for up to a yr) who are on the ADAP waiting list.

Countries have all different ways to pay the cost medical care and treatment for their citizens.

In Switzerland all residents MUST buy health insurance from one of the private companies. All private companies must except ANYONE who applies, for the basic policy. The Government decides what the basic policy must cover, which is pretty much everything but it takes time to get some things approved. For instance HIV medicine.

The basic policy is about 350 - 400 a month at the cheapest company.

If you are poor, the government has to subsidize your insurance payment - but again the money then goes to the private company.

F.Y.I.

Also the retail price of Atripla is different in each country. It sounds like its different in each American state, and also depending on who is buying it!

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

It is so surprising that so called rich superpower Nation like the USA could not private free HIV drugs for patients.There is no country in Europe that charge their people for HIV drugs.The good USA citizen should wake up, their country is hijacked by money loving greedy indiviiduals.....

Hello,well that price seems incredibly high to me! I live in Italy and the price of one bottle of Atripla (30 capsules) is 1,084 Euros, which is 1,563 Dollars. I do not have to pay anything for it, as the drug costs are completetly covered by the national health fund. Besides I take a complete blood exam every three months, which is covered as well...

There are countries in Europe that charge for HIV drugs. I just explained that its just like any other drug in Switzerland. Covered by insurance, but you must pay for insurance by month and you must pay a deductible on your meds, and the lowest deductible 300 out of pocket and then 10% up to ta total of 1000 a year. Other people might pay more than that. So, I pay 1000 a year for the drug.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

However, the cost of the drag is outrageously huge. Are there places in the world where people do not pay for medications?

In Ecuador, medication and all cares (analyse, medic...) are for free (I believe it is the same in most of Latin america countries), you don´t need any insurance, but in the public system that is colapsed (for analyzes you have to arrive at 6:00 AM to hospital to expect going out at 9:00 or 10:00). About medics, there are few solutions and all with generic, but these are similar treatments than is first world. They give you to a month of treatment medic... Medicals that deal with our problem are very profesional and friendly, but in another way in some private clinics, there have been reported case that infected people were not treated properly or were discriminated. Because of the cost and availability, some treatments are reservated only for people with very low CD4 or in a very bad situation; also sometimes, there is shortage of medicines......

Anyway, whan I read about US situation, sometimes I think it is much better here... I´m very surprised too that a country like UScannot help better its ill peopl. How does this works in Canada?

Hello,well that price seems incredibly high to me! I live in Italy and the price of one bottle of Atripla (30 capsules) is 1,084 Euros, which is 1,563 Dollars. I do not have to pay anything for it, as the drug costs are completetly covered by the national health fund. Besides I take a complete blood exam every three months, which is covered as well...

Anyway, whan I read about US situation, sometimes I think it is much better here... I´m very surprised too that a country like UScannot help better its ill peopl. How does this works in Canada?

I don't want to give wrong informations, so if someone knows better, please correct me. And I'm not sure how it works exactly in other provinces than Quebec, but here, all of your meds and healthcare fees are covered by the public system if you are not eligible to a private insurance program. By law, you have to take meds-insurance, and you can not get public insurance if you can get it from a private company (from work, from your spouse, from your parents, etc.)

Right now, I am on the public healthcare, you have a small share to pay (it's taken from your taxes once a year), but I don't have any meds to take so far, so I don't know exactly how it will apply then, if I'm still on the public healthcare. It's always better to get it on private tho, because you can sometimes grab a life insurance, or dental program too, that the public doesn't offer.

Hope it helped, I'd assume it's the same in most other provinces for meds-insurance.

When I start taking Atripla back in 2009, the cost was $2200 then come to be $2330 now today it is costing me $2450.99. I think this med is working great for me. I don't want to miss a single dose. However, the cost is getting too high. Had it not been for my insurance, I don't know how I am going to pay for this med. I live in a state where there are many people in waiting list for ADAP. I am just worried where I might end up if the price rising at this rate.

This is a crazy price. At $2450, your one month cost of Atripla in US is equivalent to the cost of what I can buy for 40 months in India. This is scary and no wonder why lot of US citizens are flocking to Indian hospitals for major operations like knee replacement, cardiac surgeries, cosmetic surgeries etc because its cheap, on par with international standards and no waiting time. If you don't have insurance in US I hear you cannot survive. I am sure their is a lot of unhealthy lobby of the Insurance/Pharama/Hospitals in US where the costs are continue to be High. If I had opted for a Government supply of medication I would have got that free even without insurance but of course the medicines would be different. In India still around 70-80% of the population are uninsured and hence the Government Hosptia ls are talking care of them with free or subsidised treatment. Those who have money and who can afford go to private hospitals. Insurance business is catching up in India and I already see the costs are raising.. but never like US and hope India don't turn out to be expensive like US. US need a revolution to bring the medical costs down.

Don't believe everythin you read. If you lived in the US you would probably either not pay anything for your medication or pay a small copay for your medication. This thread in disingenuous. While the actual cost of Atripla is about 2 grand a month, most people do not pay that.

Don't believe everythin you read. If you lived in the US you would probably either not pay anything for your medication or pay a small copay for your medication. This thread in disingenuous. While the actual cost of Atripla is about 2 grand a month, most people do not pay that.

There is nothing disingenuous about it at all . We all pay the price for this in one way or another . A small copay doesent equal a small problem when it comes to the health care system here .

Don't believe everythin you read. If you lived in the US you would probably either not pay anything for your medication or pay a small copay for your medication. This thread in disingenuous. While the actual cost of Atripla is about 2 grand a month, most people do not pay that.

Right. Take me, for example...I get my medications at no cost.

However, to keep that little balloon in the air, I have to stay at a point of poverty. If I go even one dollar above that financial cutoff, I lose all this access to medical care.

I was responding to Hope4loves impression that "I hear in the US if you do not have insurance you cannot survive"

While its true the US healthcare system has problems and is broken, when someone from one of he poorest countries is under the impression that you cannot survive in the US there is something amiss in our explanation of what is occuring. The title of this thread gives the impression that we are all writing checks for $2500 a month for our meds, that simply is not true. I pay nothing, thunter pays nothing, even the OP doesnt pay what he has posted. I'm sure most if not all the people on this forum from the US pay either nothing or a small copay. That IS disingenous.

Personally, I'd rather take my chances in the US than receive government care in India (and I'm sure you would too-no offense to those from India). While it is America's favorite pastime to complain, there is nothing wrong with being gratefull for what you have. I'm sorry if you cant see it.

I was responding to Hope4loves impression that "I hear in the US if you do not have insurance you cannot survive"

While its true the US healthcare system has problems and is broken, when someone from one of he poorest countries is under the impression that you cannot survive in the US there is something amiss in our explanation of what is occuring. The title of this thread gives the impression that we are all writing checks for $2500 a month for our meds, that simply is not true. I pay nothing, thunter pays nothing, even the OP doesnt pay what he has posted. I'm sure most if not all the people on this forum from the US pay either nothing or a small copay. That IS disingenous.

Personally, I'd rather take my chances in the US than receive government care in India (and I'm sure you would too-no offense to those from India). While it is America's favorite pastime to complain, there is nothing wrong with being gratefull for what you have. I'm sorry if you cant see it.

I still know that because I never write a check for $2500 doesn't mean that someone else doesn't have to on my behalf and yes its a real problem , a huge problem . I have friends that died from lack of proper medical care so I do see it clearly for what it is . If Americans keep soft peddling around this issue we are doomed to never fix the problem .

Have you not seen the news lately ... Congress is engaging in class warfare about entitlements and battling to cut medicare and medicaid before they will allow the debt ceiling to be raised , its all related to this very issue .

amen.Its hardly the best situation in the USA and its very far from the worst. Well, if people don't want to think a moment about such issues as comparing health care around the world, so be it, they'll keep their simple understanding.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Ann, yes I understand people DO fall through the cracks. What happened to the person mentioned in the thread you attached was horrible. I aknowledge there are serious problems with America's healthcare system. I wish we had a single payer system. I was not trying to defend the entire system. I just felt the way the thread was titled was a little confusing and the post for hope4life was a bit extreme (in my opinion).

The title of this thread gives the impression that we are all writing checks for $2500 a month for our meds, that simply is not true. I pay nothing, thunter pays nothing, even the OP doesnt pay what he has posted. I'm sure most if not all the people on this forum from the US pay either nothing or a small copay. That IS disingenous.

No, no that was not the intention here. This only tries to show how much the med is costing us or whom so ever is covering for us. Yes, if I don't have insurance in US, I will resort to ADAP or something like. If I fail to get the ADAP due to rising waiting list, I might resort to my pocket if I do have the bucks. Or else, I will be left in the grave yard just like the many of our friends who lack medication and died. So, to say the cost is getting an unaffordable, it is not disingenuous and show the risk associated with people who are living from hand to mouth. The high price of my meds still worries me though it is covered by insurance, government or other organizations. I don't think it reasonable to say let it rise, it is paid by insurance or other agencies.

Worst yet i worry each day if today is the day i will be laid off and without insurance and a growing waitin list in my state creates a recipe for disaster personally.. Yes i do not pay for the full price or my copay but you cant stop worrying what would happen.. I have a whole new respect to our seniors who have the exact sameconcerns about thier medical needs

Your comment really confused me. I live in Atlanta, Georgia. What do you mean when you says "public system"? What public system?You mention "By law, you have to take meds-insurance and you can't get public insurance if you can get it from a private company". What is meds- insurance? Maybe I am just not understanding your terminology? sorry, now you have me really confused.

I don't want to give wrong informations, so if someone knows better, please correct me. And I'm not sure how it works exactly in other provinces than Quebec, but here, all of your meds and healthcare fees are covered by the public system if you are not eligible to a private insurance program. By law, you have to take meds-insurance, and you can not get public insurance if you can get it from a private company (from work, from your spouse, from your parents, etc.)

Right now, I am on the public healthcare, you have a small share to pay (it's taken from your taxes once a year), but I don't have any meds to take so far, so I don't know exactly how it will apply then, if I'm still on the public healthcare. It's always better to get it on private tho, because you can sometimes grab a life insurance, or dental program too, that the public doesn't offer.

Hope it helped, I'd assume it's the same in most other provinces for meds-insurance.

In Switzerland everyone is required by law to buy insurance which is all private. If someone doesn't have the money for the monthly premium, the state helps or pays.

I don't know whats going to happen with Obama care the Republicans seem dead set on stiffing the working stiffs, and its all just symbolic and philosophy and rather hypocritical. If "American is No. 1" still attracts Republicans they should start taxing corporations fairly and make a stab at having universal health coverage in what is a rich and advanced country.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Your comment really confused me. I live in Atlanta, Georgia. What do you mean when you says "public system"? What public system?You mention "By law, you have to take meds-insurance and you can't get public insurance if you can get it from a private company". What is meds- insurance? Maybe I am just not understanding your terminology? sorry, now you have me really confused.

Thanks for the clarification.M

He's referring to Canada and a system that you and I in Atlanta don't have. Here, the only public system that I am aware of comes via Grady. It's the one I am on, and it's only two requirements are that you be dirt poor and fairly close to death (at least at the start).

Your comment really confused me. I live in Atlanta, Georgia. What do you mean when you says "public system"? What public system?You mention "By law, you have to take meds-insurance and you can't get public insurance if you can get it from a private company". What is meds- insurance? Maybe I am just not understanding your terminology? sorry, now you have me really confused.

Thanks for the clarification.M

I'm sorry if I'm confusing you! English isn't my first language, and I hope I don't mix-up technical words when I speak about insurances.

But there's a public meds-insurance in Quebec (I am not sure how it works in other Canadian provinces). It's called "Assurance médicaments" (or Prescription Drug Insurance), and it is compulsory. Everyone has to be covered by a drug insurance here, and it will be, depending on your case, either public or private funded. Private insurances come from your workplace, or such. The public plan is the one the government gives, to which you are entitled if you can't get a private plan from your job or from your spouse or parents. If you are eligible to a private plan, you do not have the right to use the public plan. If you have a private plan, you have the obligation to provide it to your spouse and your children. But if you can't have one, the government will cover your drugs costs.

I was responding to Hope4loves impression that "I hear in the US if you do not have insurance you cannot survive"

While its true the US healthcare system has problems and is broken, when someone from one of he poorest countries is under the impression that you cannot survive in the US there is something amiss in our explanation of what is occuring. The title of this thread gives the impression that we are all writing checks for $2500 a month for our meds, that simply is not true. I pay nothing, thunter pays nothing, even the OP doesnt pay what he has posted. I'm sure most if not all the people on this forum from the US pay either nothing or a small copay. That IS disingenous.

Personally, I'd rather take my chances in the US than receive government care in India (and I'm sure you would too-no offense to those from India). While it is America's favorite pastime to complain, there is nothing wrong with being gratefull for what you have. I'm sorry if you cant see it.

Buginme2, I do not live in the US nor do I know any thing about the healthcare system there.

I think what H4L was trying to convey (not to force words in his mouth) was that India being a poor country notwithstanding, the Govt Hospitals here do give out free ARVs to all poz people, regardless of their economic background, once you register at a Govt Anti-Retroviral Therapy Centre. They also provide monitoring and care. Given all the challenges a poor country like India faces, I think this is commendable and I believe, it is in this context that H4L was drawing a comparison with the healthcare system in a wealthy country such as the US.

And yea, I probably would never want to be treated in a Govt Hospital in India either, because the patient/doctor ratio is appalling among other problems. However, I am among the privileged few who can afford private care here and it is at least comforting to know that those who are not as fortunate have a safe fall back in the Govt Health Care system.

As an aside, the Private Hospitals in India do have state of the art facilities and very well trained doctors/staff (for those who can afford them) which might explain why India has become a major destination for what they call “Medical Tourism” nowadays. In many cases (nothing to do with HIV) people find it cheaper to fly to India from Europe for medical procedures rather than having it done at home. And since these are private money making insitutions, poor or rich country argument loses meaning. You get what you pay for.

Here In Ontario Canada it can be very very confusing I have spent a years hours Days sorting everything out.I still do not know what my co pay will be that starts in August and paying is a real worry.I would suggest contacting an ASO in Quebec ad each Province runs its own drug plans.The ASO would be very familiar with what to do there.